BACK'S LAND EXPEDITION. 229 



very dark green ; and the spray, which spread a dim- 

 ness above, was thrown up in clouds of light gray. 

 Niagara, Wilberforce's Falls in Hood's River, the falls 

 of Kakabikka, near Lake Superior, the Swiss or Italian 

 falls, although they may each ' charm the eye with 

 dread/ are not to be compared to this for splendor of 

 effect. It was the most imposing spectacle I had ever 

 witnessed ; and, as its berg-like appearance brought to 

 mind associations of another scene, I bestowed upon it 

 the name of our celebrated navigator, Sir Edward Parry, 

 and called it Parry's Falls. " 



Of the Indians, Back gives, in his narrative, some 

 interesting anecdotes. 



Once, speaking with the Camarade de Mandeville, a 

 potent Chipewyan chief, regarding the due observance 

 of certain moral precepts for his future guidance, the 

 chief listened with most profound attention and gravity. 

 When Back had concluded, he raised his head a little, 

 and, with eyes fixed on the floor, said, in a low and 

 solemn tone, " The chief's words have sunk deep into 

 my heart, and I shall often think of them when I am 

 alone. It is true that I am ignorant ; but I never lie 

 down at night in my lodge without whispering to the 

 Great Spirit a prayer for forgiveness, if I have done any- 

 thing wrong that day. ;) 



On the 17th of September the return party met Mr. 

 McLeod, according to appointment, at Sandy-Hill Bay. 

 He had long been expecting them, and had spent many 

 an anxious hour in watching the distant objects in the 

 direction of their route. With this gentleman they 

 returned to Fort Reliance, where they arrived on the 

 27th, " after an absence of nearly four months ; tired, 

 indeed, but well in health, and truly grateful for the 

 manifold mercies we had experienced in the course ot 

 our long and perilous journey." 



